I recently set up my woodshop in half of a 2-car garage but have some limitations. I'm in a rental house and stuck with only one 20A circuit, which also powers the garage door opener. Previously, I used a shop vac for tools like my sander and router, but I'm now producing more dust with my Rigid 4512 table saw, DW735 planer, and miter saw. I've been considering getting a 1 HP dust collector, specifically the Grizzly G0785, since 1.5+ HP models might be too much for my circuit. I plan to only run one tool at a time with a hose no longer than 10 feet and a separator. However, I'm questioning whether investing around $700 for this setup will make a noticeable difference compared to just using a leaf blower for cleanup. Most of the advice I see suggests upgrading the electrical setup, which isn't an option for me, so I'm looking for thoughts on using a smaller unit like this. Will it really make a difference?
2 Answers
Honestly, a 1 HP dust collector is definitely better than just a shop vac. Considering your setup, if you can hook it directly to each tool without too much piping, it should work well enough for basic dust collection. It won’t be the power of a bigger unit, especially if you had a more complex system, but it should help with the mess from your table saw and planer. Plus, it’s way easier than dealing with a full shop vac!
I used to have a 1 HP dust collector in my small basement shop, and it made a noticeable difference, even if it wasn't as good as my 15 amp unit now. It was a hassle emptying the shop vac constantly, so using the dust collector was a relief, despite not being perfect. Just remember to keep your garage doors open for airflow and consider wearing a lightweight mask to help with fine dust. You could also build a DIY air filtration unit for around $100—it can really cut down on particles in the air and it’s pretty easy to make!
That's a great tip about the DIY air filter! I might try that along with the dust collector to really clean up the space.